Channing Tatum Bio: From G.I. Joe to Magic Mike

Channing Matthew Tatum was born on April 26th, 1980 in Cullman, Alabama. An athletic youth turned male stripper, he was quickly discovered and cast in commercials, before shifting his focus to acting in television, and trying his hand at film. Becoming the star of such films as "Step Up", "Dear John", "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and "21 Jump Street", this heartthrob, action star and comedic talent has become an actor for everyone. Join WatchMojo.com as we learn more about the life and career of Channing Tatum.

He’s got the looks and the moves! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be learning more about the life and career of Channing Tatum.

Channing Matthew Tatum was born on April 26th, 1980 in Cullman, Alabama. After his family shipped off to Mississippi when he was six, Tatum nurtured his love of sports by playing football, baseball, track, soccer and Kung Fu.

While living in Florida as a teen, Tatum earned himself a football scholarship to West Virginia’s Glenville State College. However, he quickly dropped out and landed in Miami, where he took a bunch of random jobs. He even worked briefly as a stripper under the alias “Chan Crawford.”

Lady luck smiled on Tatum when he was discovered on the street by a talent agent in 2000. His big break came when he was cast in the Ricky Martin music video, “She Bangs.” He then used his good looks to secure modeling work for high-profile fashion brands, in addition to several soda commercials.

By 2004, he craved a new challenge and decided to try his hand at acting. Tatum made his debut as criminal Bob Davenport in one episode of “CSI: Miami.” The positive experience prompted him to focus all his energy on acting, and soon he landed a part as a basketball player opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the sports drama “Coach Carter.” He followed this with roles in the direct-to-video flick “Havoc,” and “Supercross” in 2005.

An unsuccessful audition for “X-Men: The Last Stand” in 2006 led to his next job: Tatum landed a supporting role in “She’s the Man,” where he showed off his sports skills.

However, it was his next film that fired up his career and made him a heartthrob: in 2006, he starred as a troubled dancer in the hip-hop film “Step Up.” Audiences ignored the critics and the movie was a hit. Tatum and his leading lady Jenna Dewan soon started an off-screen romance, and the pair married in 2009 – but not before he appeared in the film’s sequel.

After making his splash as a heartthrob in the teen-oriented movie, Tatum took on a more profound role in “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.” He then appeared in “Battle in Seattle,” which told the true story of protests surrounding 1999’s World Trade Organization meeting.

Tatum showcased his dramatic skills further in 2009 by playing a soldier dealing with post-traumatic stress after fighting in Iraq in “Stop-Loss.”

He then starred as a street-hustler-turned-street-fighter in “Fighting,” made a cameo in “Public Enemies,” and cleaned up at the box-office in the critically ill-received blockbuster “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” In that film adaptation of the popular toy franchise, Tatum played the team’s leader, Duke, who was out to save the world, despite the actor’s misgivings the film would glorify war.

Tatum went back to a more realistic approach to warfare in 2010. To please his female fans, he starred in the romantic drama “Dear John,” where he carried on a long-distance relationship with Amanda Seyfried.

Though Tatum seemed to have found the momentum he needed to land a spot on Hollywood’s A-list, he hit several speed bumps in 2011. The comedy-drama “The Dilemma,” the historical epic “The Eagle,” and the action-thriller “The Son of No One” were all relatively unsuccessful.

He regained his footing in 2012 with some smash hits: he targeted the ladies with the romantic drama “The Vow,” and tapped his funny bone in the action-comedy “21 Jump Street.” He also starred in the movie “Magic Mike,” which was loosely-based on his own experiences as a male stripper seeking honest employment.

Tatum was a major box-office draw by this point, and rumors circulated that Paramount pulled their already-finished blockbuster sequel “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” from the summer 2012 schedule to film reshoots that showcased more of the star.

He may have the moves and a sexy bod, but Channing Tatum has shown audiences he can also be both serious and outrageously funny. As far as we can tell, this is one actor who will continue to have an explosive career in Hollywood, thanks to his popularity with men and women alike.